AfricanTrade.com

Geography
Area: 129,494 sq. km. (59,998 sq. mi.); slightly larger than New York State.
Cities: Capital--Managua (pop. 1 million). Other cities--Leon, Granada, Jinotega, Matagalpa, Chinandega, Masaya.
Terrain: Extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes.
Climate: Tropical in lowlands; cooler in highlands.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Nicaraguan(s).
Population (2005 est.): 5.48 million.
Annual growth rate (2005 est.): 1.75%. Density--42 per sq. km.
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed European and indigenous) 69%, white 17%, black (Jamaican origin) 9%, indigenous 5%.
Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic, with rapidly growing percentage of Evangelical Protestants.
Languages: Spanish (official), English and indigenous languages on Caribbean coast.

Work force (2004 est.): 1.9 million. Unemployed--12%; underemployed--35%.

Government
Type: Republic.

Economy
GDP (2004 est.): PPP $12.3 billion
GDP real growth rate (2004 est.): 4%
Per capita GDP (2004 est.): PPP $2,300
Inflation rate (2004 est.): 9.3%.

Natural resources: Arable land, livestock, fisheries, gold, timber.
Agriculture (22% of GDP): Products--corn, coffee, sugar, meat, rice, beans, bananas.
Industry (21% of GDP): Types--processed food, beverages, textiles, petroleum, and metal products.
Services (58% of GDP): Types--commerce, construction, government, banking, transportation, and energy.

Trade (2004 est.): Exports--$755 million (f.o.b.): coffee, seafood, beef, sugar, industrial goods, gold, bananas, sesame. Markets--U.S. 35%, European Union 14%, Central American Common Market (CACM) 33%, Mexico 5%. Imports--$2.02 billion (f.o.b.): petroleum, agricultural supplies, manufactured goods. Suppliers--U.S. 22%, CACM 23%, Venezuela 14%, European Union 7%.

The U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua is located at Kilometer 4.5, Carretera Sur, Managua (tel. country code 505, phone 266-6010). Letters mailed in the U.S. should be addressed to American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021.
American Chamber of Commerce in Nicaragua
Apartado Postal 202
Managua, Nicaragua
Tel: (5052) 67-30-99
Fax: (5052) 67-30-98